Chapter 41- A Council Meeting From Hell

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"Don't judge yourself by the past. You don't live there anymore."

Chapter 41

River's POV

"What have you done, father?"

His Highness' eyes narrowed, a deadly silence following. The tension grew a ten-fold as Isaiah sniffed quietly, face buried in Derek's chest as Derek held him tightly, eyes focused intently on His Highness' face.

"This is how you greet your father after a week away?" His arms drew in a tight knot across his chest.

Alastair remained silent, eyes darkening by the moment.

I felt a tremble run down my back as his arms tightened harshly around me.

"A-Alastair," I looked up at him but his eyes remained unwavering, focusing solely on the subject of his anger.

"Y-you're h-hurting m-me," I managed through gasps. His hold was growing painfully tight as I wiggled in his hold.

He seemed to snap out of it then, arms abruptly pulling from me as he let out a low gasp.

"I'm so sorry, love." He spoke quietly, words barely audible.

I nodded acknowledgedly while rubbing at my chest.

His Highness peered down at me, a small smirk beginning to become apparent on the corners of his lips. "I'd be careful, River."

I soaked in his words.

I knew of Alastair's anger. We've discussed it already. It was a matter he needed to work on and he knew it. His wolf, though suppressed, had a presence. A dangerous, dominant presence that Alastair has a difficult time containing at times. Times in which his anger rules over his mind.

He's working on it.

I looked up at him, catching his hazel eyes set on my face. My heart beated desperately against my chest as I peered back down, a small smile gracing my lips.

"Since you've returned, a meeting with the council is in order. We need to begin planning our next step." His Highness spoke up.

Alastair nodded, following his father as he turned out the door.

Am I meant to follow him or...?

I felt a gentle hand sweep by mine as Alastair's fingers wrapped around my wrist.

"Come, love."

I listened, following him out as he hand held mine.

"You can't be serious, son." His Highness exclaimed as he eyed our joined hands.

"Problem?" Alastair raised a brow.

"A huge problem," his father sighed, "You do not bring your mate to a council meeting."

"Is that so?" Alastair mused, continuing ahead with not a single look in his father's direction.

"Alastair," his father exclaimed loudly as Alastair stopped before a large, wooden door.

"Yes?" He asked lightly, face remaining neutral.

I squeezed Alastair's hand lightly. He peered down at me with quizzical eyes.

"I can go to the garden if I'm not meant to be here. I haven't been there in a long while and I was hoping to revisit today anyway." His brows pulled tight.

"No."

"No?" His father scoffed.

"No, I want you to be there. You need to know what's going on in your own kingdom."

"His kingdom?" His father interjected.

Alastair ignored him, "besides, you being by my side would make the meeting that much less dreadful."

I was silent. I didn't exactly know what to say to that.

Before his father could comment again, Alastair pushed the door open revealing a circle of uptight-dressed men in posh attire surrounding a large rectangular table. The minute they caught sight of Alastair whispers ensued.

Alastair's eyes traveled the row of men as he took seat in a large, velvet chair.

"Where are my advisors?" He questioned as he pulled me into his lap.

The room grew quiet.

"Have you all gone mute?" His voice rose.

"I saw no need for them."

Alastair turned to the voice of his father, "No need for them?"

"You are yet to be king. Why must you need your own advisors?"

My eyes widened.

His father dismissed his advisors?

"Why must I have to surround myself with your corrupted men? I'm soon to be a king and I'd prefer the men I surround myself with to be that of wisdom, not those pigs you claim as men."

"They are not pigs, child. Perhaps you've gone foolish during your long travel," his father's voice remained unnervingly even.

"What have you done with them?" Alastair's voice deepened.

His Highness' eyes narrowed to near slits, "No need to fear. They're still in the palace."

"Bring them."

The room filled with heavy whispers, each man turning to one another as Alastair's eyes pinned his father.

His father let out an exasperated sigh, motioning his hand to a soldier by the door and whispering in his ear. The man nodded and left the room. The room grew tense as the men watched Alastair with great annoyance. It appeared that his father's advisors did not appreciate the sudden competition.

Alastair didn't seem to pay them any mind. He remained silent, brushing his fingers through my hair with gentle ease as I rested against his chest. All the eyes in the room seemed to be an Alastair and me as he ran his fingers through my hair. I felt myself tense under all the stares; it was unnerving.

A soft brush of air swept by my ear as Alastair his lips hovered above my shoulder, "I know it's unnerving at first," he whispered, "but it is something you grow used to. The constant staring. It always remains...but you grow accustomed to it."

If I would turn, even the slightest, his lips would brush my cheek. Such a thought plagued my mind and scorched my cheeks.

And just like that, his lips were gone as he pulled back and the door opened. My eyes widened as Isaiah and Derek walked in, side by side.

I felt Alastair stiffen beneath me.

"Where are the rest?"

Derek rose his head to speak, "They left."

His Highness covered his mouth with a loose hand, humor playing avidly across his face.

"Cowards," Alastair hissed beneath his breath.

Derek and Isaiah brushed passed High Highness and took seat on both sides of Alastair, shooting glares at those on the other side.

"It's alright," Derek leaned towards Alastair, "clearly they weren't loyal. We'll find better ones, more loyal ones for your reign."

Isaiah nodded in agreement, "you only need three more. Derek and I would never leave your side."

Alastair remained silent.

Before I could stop myself, my fingers were combing through his hair. He peered down at me with softening eyes as he bent down to lay a gentle kiss between my eyes.

"Alastair has returned," his father's voice boomed through the room, silencing the men, "and with him the leaving of the rebels."

"Leaving not demolishment?" A man questioned across the table.

"Yes," Alastair spoke, "as all previous times, they had left before we had reached their hiding place."

"Hmm," a familiar voice spoke up, stroking his stubbled beard with a crooked grin, "perhaps we should have sent my son after all." He turned to Alastair's father, "I had told you nothing would come out of this."

His Highness ground his teeth together as Derek's voice broke through the sudden tension, "Hyde would have caused nothing but havoc and you know it-"

"You know nothing, child." The man's eyes grew ablaze. "Perhaps you need to replace this advisor as well, Your Majesty," his eyes directed to Alastair, "it appears he has none of the mind for matters like these."

"I believe my choice of advisors is a choice of my own, Victor." Alastair's voice hardened.

"Perhaps," Victor continued, "but is it not the job of an advisor to give needed advice? You are to be our future king. As a royal advisor, it much concerns me who you choose to place as future advisors to the council."

"Perhaps it's a good choice then that I chose of riding your position then, yes? At least then our council will be ridden of one pig."

A series of gasps filled the room.

"Alastair," his father gasped out.

A short laughter escaped Victor's mouth as he eyed Alastair, "I can already see how long your reign will last, Your Majesty. The people you surround yourself with are those lacking in intellect. This council is already soon to be filled with nothing but children."

"At least it will no longer be filled with those old enough to be impotent," Keith scoffed from the doorway.

"I don't remember you being invited to a royal council meeting," Victor eyed him.

"I'm the eldest. Of course, I'm to be present."

"You gave up being the heir when you-"

"I told him to come," His Highness interjected.

Victor remained silent, crossing his arms and leaning back into his chair.

"He may not no longer be the heir but he is still part of the royal family," Alastair's father eyed Victor to which Victor merely let out a sigh of annoyance.

Isaiah stood from his seat and sat beside Derek, allowing Keith seat beside his brother. Keith nodded his thanks to Isaiah before turning to Alastair.

"What did I miss?"

I looked up at Alastair and watched a long scowl cross his face.

"Just Victor fighting with Alastair," I whispered back to him as Alastair seemed too annoyed to utter a word.

"I believe," Isaiah began, "that the best course of action now would be just to continue what we've been doing, sending men to each city to scout out the area to find their next hiding area."

"It appears such a passive approach won't work," another man interrupted across the table. "It hasn't been working. A more drastic approach should be taken."

"Drastic?" Alastair interrupted, "do you expect my men to enter with fire and pitchforks, cause havoc to the cities we enter to perhaps scare the rebels to show us where they are?"

"No," Victor spoke up, "we should make an example."

"An example of what?"

"We have a rebel in our possession."

What?

I felt myself tense as images of those I knew of flew through my mind.

Is it someone I know?

I peered back at Alastair to read his expression.

"When?" His face was hard, stone-like, lips pressed together harshly as he pushed the word out.

"During your absence."

The room was silent for a few moments as Alastair watched Victor through narrowed eyes, the other advisors too afraid to speak up.

"What do you have in mind?"

"We need to instill fear in them. Show them the repercussions to their actions."

I remained silent, waiting for him to get to the punchline as I fiddled with my fingers.

Who had he caught? How had he caught someone?

"Hang her," was all I heard as my mind went blank.

What?

I spun in Alastair's hold.

"No," I managed.

"Where?"

Is he considering it?

"In the town's square for all to see."

"How will that accomplish anything?"

"You'll make an announcement before, give a leeway. Say, whoever of the rebels turn themselves in personally and take the needed shots will be left alone."

"What?!" A man spoke up angrily, "You're just going to allow them to-"

"Allow me to finish," Victor said sharply, shutting the man up. "And to all those who don't..."

"Will be hung like the girl," Alastair finished.

"And you think that will cause them to all just turn themselves in," the same man scoffed.

"I don't think," Victor laughed humorlessly, "I know. They're afraid. The whole lot of them. They need the incentive to free themselves from their havoc-filled lives and an incentive I will them."

I continued to peer at Alastair, trying to read his face yet no emotion would appear.

What is he thinking?

"Very well." The whole room turned to Alastair's sudden reply, "Father?"

His father's face remained neutral, "we'll see how it plays out."

My eyes widened.

They couldn't be serious.

Alastair stood from his seat, taking me into his arms as he pushed the chair back.

"This meeting is dismissed. We'll regroup tomorrow to discuss the time."

Before I could even hear their replies we were out the door and down the hall.

"Alastair," I choked out.

He peered down at me with tight lips and clouded eyes.

The door to his room was closed before I could even see it open as he carried me to the bed and placed me on top of mounds of fur and silk. I curled up into a ball, pulling a fur lining beneath my chin as I watched him pace beside the bed.

"Why?" My voice came out soft, questioning.

He peered down at me, eyes swirling with more emotions than I could decipher.

"Why did you say yes?"

He let out a sigh, sweeping his finger roughly through his hair before climbing into the bed and laying beside me.

"I have no choice," his voice came out low as his finger brushed gently by my cheek.

I shook my head, "You always have a choice."

"Not always," he laid his head against my chest as he closed his eyes, "sometimes the choice is in the hands of others but the words can be uttered by none but you."

I contemplated that for a moment, "So don't utter it."

He laughed, "If only that were a choice." He opened his eyes slowly and gazed up at me. My heart leaped in my chest as he leaned up and connected my lips with his.

I sighed into the kiss, allowing the heat to consume me as he rolled on top of me and cradled my head in his large hands.

"No more talk, more feeling." His lips pulled from my own, taking a dip down my neck and nipping lightly on my collar bone.

A gasp escaped my throat as his fingers wandered down my stomach, dipping into my pants.

"A-Alastair," I moaned as his fingers wrapped around me and began to pump.

"Shh," he cooed into my ear as his lips tugged at my earlobe.

He fingers moved gently against, pushing me higher and higher as my body shook. I watched him through hooded eyes, a sudden groan escaping my throat as I watched his eyes darken in lust. I pulled a shaking hand from the cold, silken sheets and wrapped it around his bulge with a sudden confidence that shocked me.

His movements stopped as he pulled away to look at me.

"T-touch?" I managed.

"I don't know if I have the control..." he turned away.

"You'll tell me," I reached up a hand to bring his face back to me. His eyes met mine with a heated gaze that almost knocked the wind out of me, "If you feel yourself losing control; I'll stop."

He remained silent, eyes wandering.

"Is that why you didn't let me touch you before?"

He remained silent.

"Were you afraid of losing control again? Like last time?"

His teeth gritted together, "I'll never forgive myself. I hurt you. I allowed my wolf to gain more control of me than I should have and I almost..." he choked.

"But you didn't," I sat up and wrapped my arms around him.

"I hurt you nonetheless," his voice rose, "I practically defiled you."

I shook my head as I combed my fingers through his hair, "you didn't defile me."

"You said no, yet my hands," he covered his face as his voice trailed off.

"Stop beating yourself up over it," I pressed my lips to his hands, laying soft kissing along his tight knuckles.

"I hurt you," his hands pulled from his face as he instead reached his hands behind my head and swept them through my knotted hair.

He made it his mission to unknot my hair as we sat in silence.

What will it take for him to get past this? It was ages ago that he had lost control. Sure, it was scary at the time, watching him peer down at me with such darkened eyes, to come in such a cold manner. It was frightening, but I had gotten over it. It was in the past.

"I forgave you for it long ago," I tried.

He hummed as he continued de-clumping my hair.

"Perhaps, but you are far kinder to me than I deserve sometimes."

My eyes narrowed.

I pulled his face to mine and slapped my lips against his. His eyes widened as he fell backward onto the bed and I crawled on top of him. I pulled my shirt down my shoulder, shaking it off as I tugged my pants completely off and shoved them off the bed.

Alastair peered up at me quizzically as his fingers grazed my hips.

"What are you doing, love?" He spoke up as I began unbuttoning his shirt.

I remained silent as I focused on my task at hand, pulling off his shirt and tugging his pant and briefs down his legs and off the bed.

I peered down at his naked form beneath me with a childish smirk across my face.

"Love?"

"Practice makes perfect," I declared on top of him.

He raised a brow as his eyes scanned my body.

"If that were so, most would look like you would they not?" A cheeky grin stretched his lips as he leaned up and kissed my shoulder.

I pouted as I pushed him back down with a thump, "no, most would look like you."

He laughed, "agree to disagree?"

"I agree to nothing," I muttered under my breath. I dipped my head into the crook of his neck as his soft laughter rang through the room.

"Stubborn little thing."

I let out a low growl to which he laughed as I nipped at his throat. My fingers traveled down his happy trail as his laughter turned to moans.

My fingers brushed against his hard member as my lips traveled down his throat. It felt weird being the one in charge and I could already feel myself tensing up. I stroked his member slowly as I watched him fall beneath my gentle fingers.

He gasped, eyes widening as he sat up suddenly and wrapped his arms around me, breathing heavily. I froze for a moment before reciprocating and wrapping my arms around his muscular form.

"Too close," he gasped out.

I kissed his neck lightly as I rested against his shoulder, "Is he becoming stronger?"

He never used to lose control so quickly.

He sighed against the top of my head, "I'm starting to think so."

"Would Michael be able to help? Maybe give you some sort of suppressant?"

"I'll go to him tomorrow."

I nodded as I brushed my fingers lightly against his back. His muscles were so tense.

"It's okay," I said softly, brushing my lips up his neck.

I let out a squeak as I was pushed onto my back, "Alastair," I barely managed out as his lips crushed against mine.

His fingers wandered down my stomach as I wiggled against him. He let out a sigh and rolled off me. I gasped breathlessly beside him as I attempted to catch my breath.

"Perhaps this will get easier with time," he turned to face me.

I nodded.

Hopefully.

For the both of us.